Crackdown on Ramdev: PM defends Delhi police action

NEW DELHI/HARIDWAR: Breaking his silence on the police action at Ramdev's protest congregation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said it was "unfortunate" but unavoidable even as the political battle on the issue heated up with the BJP knocking at the President's door demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss black money.

In his first comments on the issue, the Prime Minister Singh, who has been accused of mishandling the situation, said, "It is unfortunate that operation had to be conducted but quite honestly, there was no alternative."

He asserted that his government was concerned and serious about fighting corruption but maintained that there was "no magic wand" when his comments were sought by reporters on the much-criticised midnight police action to disrupt Ramdev's anti-corruption protest at Ramlila Maidan.

There was no let up in the war of words with the Congress making it clear that it will deal sternly with forces of communalism and anarchy.

Stepping up its offensive againt the UPA government, a delegation of BJP-led NDA met President Pratibha Patil to demand convening of a special session of Parliament to discuss the issue of black money and police action against Ramdev and his supporters.

A day after the forcible shutting of the protest by Ramdev by Delhi police in Ramlila Maidan, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance asking the Government to explain the circumstances which compelled to take "brutal" action at the Ramlila Maidan.

In Haridwar, Ramdev resumed his fast vowing to continue his 'satyagraha' till the Government accepts his demands on curbing corruption and black money.

Facing the heat, Congress asserted in Delhi that it will deal firmly with communal forces and others wanting to destabilise the government.

Mincing no words, party spokesperson Janardhan Dwidedi accused the BJP of trying to foment trouble to return to power at the Centre.

He also lashed out at the BJP for comparing Ramdev with Mahatma Gandhi and Vivekananda.

High drama was witnessed at the press briefing when a man posing as a journalist tried to attack Dwidedi with a shoe. Sunil Kumar, who was sacked as a teacher of a coaching institute in Rajasthan, was immediately taken into custody.

Taking on Ramdev, Dwidedi said a man who claims to be saint tried to escape in a woman's dress. "Satyagrahis don't run away wearing woman's clothes. They fight," he said.

Ramdev had nearly given the police a slip after jumping from a three-metre high podium. He had melted into the crowd of supporters and changed into a salwar-kameez, acting like an injured woman, before he was spotted.

A delegation of NDA leaders led by BJP Parliamentary Party Chairman L K Advani met the President and handed over a memorandum demanding immediate convening of a special session of Parliament and passage of a resolution declaring the ill-gotten money stashed away abroad as national asset.

The memorandum said in the special session, the opposition wants to "compel" the government to explain its "brutal action against peaceful protesters and apologise for this attack on civil liberties and democratic rights".

The President gave them a patient hearing and assured the delegation that the memorandum will be examined and sent to the government for appropriate action.

BJP, whose top leaders are holding a satyagraha at Rajghat here to protest the crackdown on Ramdev and his supporters, accused the government of "shielding and protecting" the corrupt.